Loved by God.

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Chicago, IL, United States
* It's good to suffer loss, for it draws me to the Cross where God's loss is more than what anyone ever lost. * We cannot hear what the stories of the Bible are saying until we hear them as stories about ourselves. * Let go of control. * Trust God. Thank God. Think about God. Talk to God. Talk about God.

Friday, January 30, 2026

God's Masterpiece (Ephesians 2:1-10)

"
For we are God’s handiwork [workmanship, masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Eph 2:10).
  1. The Human Condition (Eph 2:1-3).
  2. The Divine Intervention (Eph 2:4-7).
  3. The Gift & The Result (Eph 2:8-10).
  1. What does it mean to be "dead in your transgressions and sins" (Eph 2:1, 5; Lk 15:24, 32)?

Monday, January 26, 2026

Be Happy Attitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
(Mt 5:3). "How blissful the destitute, abject in spirit..." [...a poor man or beggar, but with the connotation of one who is abject: cowering or cringing.]
  1. How were "the crowds" and "(h)is disciples" different (Mt 5:1; 7:24-25; Jn 8:31).
    • What is the repeated theme and emphasis of what Jesus taught (Mt 5:2, 3, 10, 12; 4:17; 6:10)?

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Paul's Passionate Pursuit (Philippians 3:7-14)

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus"
(Phil 3:14). [Paul's persistent, passionate pursuit for the priceless prize.]
  • Explain: "The goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace, nor even blessing, but Himself, my God. To know Him, to serve Him, to be like Him—that is the prize of the upward call." A.W. Tozer.

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Mission Imperatives and Indicatives


"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'" (Mt 28:18-19).
  1. What is the indicative and what is the imperative in Mt 28:18-19 (aka the great commission)?
  2. What is 
    • an indicative?
    • an imperative?
  3. Identify the indicatives and the imperatives in the following verses:
    • Gen 12:1-3.
    • Exo 19:4-6.
    • Exo 20:2-3ff.

Monday, January 5, 2026

Authority (Mark 1:21-34)

"...he [Jesus] taught them as one who had authority" (Mk 1:22). "The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority!" (Mk 1:27).


I: Authority in Word (Mk 1:21-22). Jesus teaches with authority.
II: Authority over Demons (Mk 1:23-28). Jesus exercises authority over demonic powers.
III: Authority over Sickness (Mk 1:29-31). Jesus exercises authority over sickness.
IV: Authority to the Multitudes (Mk 1:32-34). Jesus compassionately welcomes the multitudes.
    • How is human authority different from divine (spiritual) authority?